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Obituary

Dear ETSU Community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Dr. Sharon D. Loury, a valued member of the East Tennessee State University community. Dr. Loury joined ETSU in 2008 and devoted her career to advancing nursing scholarship, preserving nursing history, and improving health outcomes for underserved populations.

Dr. Loury was widely recognized for her community-engaged research focused on Hispanic and migrant populations in rural Appalachia, particularly in East Tennessee. Her work addressed critical issues, including migrant farmworker health, access to care, culturally responsive health education, occupational and environmental exposures, postpartum depression risk, diabetes care barriers, and social support among Hispanic immigrants. Through meaningful campus-community partnerships, her scholarship translated research into action, always centering the lived experiences of vulnerable communities.

She was also deeply committed to preserving the history of nursing in our region. Her scholarship in nursing history led to collaborative research, publications, a book, and the curation of a collection of nursing artifacts now displayed outside the Student Services Office in Nicks Hall, an enduring testament to her dedication to honoring the profession's legacy.

"Dr. Sharon Loury was a very kind and deeply respected faculty member," said Dr. Judy Rice, Dr. Loury's department chair. "She was a devoted steward of nursing’s past, preserving the story of Appalachian nursing through her scholarship and ensuring that our own college's history would never be forgotten. Her mentorship of students opened doors others thought impossible, including guiding a student through the rare and difficult process of securing IRB approval from the Navajo Nation. Her legacy will live on in the histories she preserved, the students she uplifted, and the enduring pride she instilled in our profession."

"Dr. Loury was one of the first faculty members I met when I came to ETSU," shared Dr. Flo Weierbach. "I will forever be indebted to Dr. Loury for introducing the head, the heart, and the hand model to me — I use it in a graduate course I teach. Dr. Loury will be missed for her knowledge and passion for nursing history and her understanding of migrant workers and other vulnerable population groups."

Dr. Jean Hemphill reflected, "What I remember most was her willingness to share her knowledge and support me during my transition back into academia. She was deeply dedicated to her students and always the first to respond. Behind her professionalism was a wonderful sense of humor. I will always remember her kindness, her generosity, and her care for her colleagues and students."

Dr. Loury's passing is felt deeply across ETSU. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and students.

Information about services may be viewed here.

Sincerely,

Brian Noland
President

Publication Date

3-3-2026

In Memory of Dr. Sharon D. Loury

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